Fujitsu Corporation

Hellmann Antonius

Mutsumi Ohtomo

Shinichiro Motokado

Hiroki Mitsuhashi

In a character generating method and an apparatus for converting outline data of a character to coordinates of a desired character size to generate a bit map image of that character size, each piece of outline coordinate data expressing a contour line of the character in logical coordinates is converted into coordinates of the designated size. The method further comprises replacing converted coordinates of designated points on the contour line with coordinates on a reference line determined by coordinates of specific reference points and rounding the individual converted coordinates of the contour and converting the rounded coordinates line into physical coordinates expressed by integers. The apparatus has a font memory for storing outline font data expressing a contour line of the character in coordinates, a character developing circuit for reading each piece of outline data from the font memory, converting the read outline data into coordinates of a designated size, replacing converted coordinates of designated points on the contour line with coordinates on a reference line determined by coordinates of specific reference points, rounding the individual converted coordinates of the contour line, and converting the rounded coordinates into physical coordinates expressed by integers. A drawing circuit is provided for generating a bit map image of the character from the converted physical coordinates.

Character generating method and apparatus

A character generating method and apparatus for producing a character from outline font data, wherein the font data stored in a font memory are converted into coordinate values of a coordinate system of a designated size in a character developing circuit, the converted coordinate values are then rounded to integer coordinate values, and the integer coordinate values are adjusted by a hinting process. The integer coordinate values are developed including the adjusted coordinate values to produce a bit map image in the character developing circuit. In one mode of the hinting process, the sum of intervals between a plurality of strokes extending in the same direction are computed from coordinates after the rounding process, the sum is compared with the number of target strokes minus 1, and the integer coordinate values are changed so as to adjust a line width of a desired stroke of the target strokes when the sum is smaller than a value resulting from a subtraction. In another mode of the hinting process, scaling factors of individual intervals are computed from intervals between individual strokes before the rounding and intervals between individual strokes after the rounding, the difference between the largest scaling factor and the smallest scaling factor is computed, and the integer coordinate values of a desired stroke among the strokes are shifted so as to make the difference smaller.

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Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany

Hellmann Antonius